de rigueur

Mr Rigger visited this week to assess the seaworthiness of the rigging. This was required not only for insurance purposes, but from all the Captain’s conversations with seasoned yachties and old salts, after about 10 years the rigging starts to become unreliable, and for cruising purposes, is best replaced. Needless to say, the verdict was that new rigging is de rigueur. Now Mr Rigger just needs to return the Captain’s phonecalls and arrange a date. Not that we’re impatient to be on our way …

Another job off the ‘to do’ list this week is the dinghy motor. Captain was his usual decisive self and the first place we visited saw the purchase of a motor (the Chinese economy needs our help after all). For the blokes - it’s a Maxus 4 stroke with 4 horsepower (Matey thinks she actually understands what that means, though it just looks and sounds like a motorbike motor to her). It can use Yamaha parts, which should be relatively easy to source, if required. Anyway – having the dinghy motor sorted is exciting as while the Captain and the Matey both prefer to row (for the exercise as well as for the environment) there will be times when they’ll need the motor for longer distances or in strong winds or tides.

Where are you Mr Rigger?